Parturition Behaviour - Cow

Lasts ~6 hours
Relaxing of pelvic ligaments.
Mammary secretions change from transparent,honey-like to opaque, cellular colostrum.
Body temperature subnormal by ~0.6◦C.
Parturition will begin 12 hours after complete relaxation of the posterior borders of the sacrosciatic ligaments.
Heifers may show signs of abdominal pain for up to 24 hours before the cervix is fully dilated.
Occasional straining may occur.
Picks at feed, irregular rumination
'Lowing'
Kicking of the abdomen
Restless, may stand with her back arched and tail raised.
- May go down and rise again frequently
Pulse rate often increased to 80-90.

Lasts 30 minutes - 4 hours
- Longer in heifers than in cows
- Male calves take longer to be born
Onset marked by the appearance of the amnoin ('water bag') at the vulva.
Less frequent straining
Remains standing at first
During passage of the head through the vulva, the cow normally goes down and remains recumbent until the calf is born.
May lie on her side or in sternal recumbency.
Placental separation occurs more slowly than in the mare.
Umbillical cord of the calf is shorter than in the foal and generally ruptures as the calf falls from the vulva.

Expulsion of the foetal membranes usually occurs ~6 hours after the birth of the calf.
- After 24 hours consider a pathological cause for retained placenta.
Cow will eat the foetal membranes. Hence the cow will show a marked reduction in milk production for at least a month due to indigestion of the foetal membranes.